Transport of live animals
Do you transport live animals? You must comply with the animal welfare and animal health rules set out in the European Animal Transport Regulation. You will need a carrier’s license and the required documentation. Your vehicle must also meet certain requirements. These regulations apply to carriers, livestock farmers, and collection centres.
Transport documentation
If you transport poultry or livestock, (cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, or horses), you will need a transport document (in Dutch). You must carry this document with you during the transport.
You can use the standard transport document (in Dutch) from the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit, NVWA) for the transport of:
- poultry
- horses
- cattle (you can also use an example from your sector association)
For the transport of sheep and goats you can download the transport document (pdf, in Dutch) from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
For the transport of pigs there are 2 databases assigned to register transport and movements. To register the transport of pigs, you can make use of the POV database or the VIVA database (both in Dutch).
Apply for a carrier’s licence
Do you transport animals over a distance of more than 65 kilometres? You need a carrier’s licence (in Dutch). You apply for a carrier’s licence to the NVWA. The duration of the transport determines what type of carrier’s licence you need:
- A licence for transports of less than 8 hours including loading and unloading (vergunning type I, in Dutch), or
A carrier’s license is valid for 5 years. You cannot extend the carrier’s license. You have to apply for a new carrier’s license 6 weeks before your current licence expires.
You do not need a carrier’s license if the distance of the transport is less than 65 kilometres.
Transport to and from other countries
Do you transport animals over a distance of less than 65 kilometres to another EU country? You usually need an EU animal health certificate. Outside the EU, you will often need a veterinary certificate (in Dutch). Sometimes you also need a carrier registration under the Animal Health Regulation (AHR, in Dutch). For example if you transport ungulates, dogs, cats, or ferrets, and you do not need a carrier’s license.
Certification
Drivers who transport live animals must hold a valid certificate of competence. This also applies to anyone handling the animals in a professional capacity during transport:
To receive a certificate, you must complete a course and pass an exam. A certificate is valid for 5 years. After that, you must renew your certificate.
You do not need a certificate if the distance of the transport is less than 65 kilometres.
Vehicle certification
Does your transport of live animals take longer than 8 hours? Your vehicle must be inspected by the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW) in order to obtain a VLD certificate (in Dutch).
Your vehicle must meet general requirements for means of transport. The vehicle must also meet requirements for long duration transport of live animals. There are also specific requirements for transport per animal species.
If you modify your vehicle or start transporting other animals, your VLD-certificate is no longer valid. You must have your vehicle re-inspected.
You do not need a certificate if the distance of the transport is less than 65 kilometres.
Keep a travel log
If the transport of live animals takes longer than 8 hours, you must also keep a travel log (in Dutch). You must send a copy of the log to the NVWA. You can use the NVWA's sample log (in Dutch) for this purpose.